Earthquake felt at Ireland-Zimbabwe U-19 World Cup match at Queen's Park Oval
Play was not interrupted, although broadcaster's camera wobbled and the tremors were felt in the commentary box
Sreshth Shah
29-Jan-2022
Matthew Humphreys, who would go on to hurt Zimbabwe with figures of 10-1-32-3, was bowling when the tremors occured • ICC/Getty Images
An earthquake off the coast of Port of Spain sent mild tremors through the Queen's Park Oval on Saturday while Zimbabwe were batting against Ireland at the Under-19 World Cup. It had no impact on play, but the commentators mentioned the tremors they experienced during the live broadcast.
Ireland spinner Matthew Humphreys was bowling the fifth bowl of the sixth over to Brian Bennett when the front-on camera showing the action began to shake furiously. Play was not halted as Bennett played a defensive shot to mid-off, and then dispatched the next ball to the boundary.
Andrew Leonard, the ICC commentator calling the action, said as soon as the camera began to wobble: "We are... I believe we are having an earthquake right now. In the box. We are indeed having an earthquake (laughs). It felt like not just a train going by behind us, but the whole Queen's Park Oval media centre rocked." The earthquake did not impact the broadcast either in any other way.
Earthquake at Queen's Park Oval during U19 World Cup match between @cricketireland and @ZimCricketv! Ground shook for approximately 20 seconds during sixth over of play. @CricketBadge and @NikUttam just roll with it like a duck to water! pic.twitter.com/kiWCzhewro
— Peter Della Penna (@PeterDellaPenna) January 29, 2022
The two teams are competing for positions 9-12 at the World Cup in the Plate league, after finishing third in their respective groups. Port of Spain will also host the Plate final on January 31, with both these teams competing for a spot in that.
Trinidad and Tobago is one of four countries in the West Indies that are co-hosting the U-19 World Cup. The Super League final for the World Cup title takes place on February 5 in Antigua. The other venues for the tournament were Guyana and St Kitts.
Sreshth Shah is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo. @sreshthx